Alexandria, TN to Clarksville, TN is 93.6 miles and takes about 1h 55m via I 24 and I 40, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Tennessee, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive that's largely on major highways, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. It’s a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B relatively quickly without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.8 miles from Alexandria, TN
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 24
36.4 mi
40m
I 40
28.4 mi
31m
Sparta Pike
15.4 mi
21m
Madison Street
4.7 mi
8m
TN 76
3.4 mi
3m
Downtown Loop
2.3 mi
3m
Nashville Highway
1.1 mi
1m
Locust Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 36.4 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria, TN and Clarksville, TN.
1
Start on West Main Street
53 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn right onto High Street
192 ft·6 sec·High Street
3
Turn right onto Spring Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Spring Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto Locust Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Locust Street
5
Turn right onto US 70
1.1 mi·1 min·Nashville Highway
6
Continue on US 70
15 mi·21 min·Sparta Pike
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 40 West: Nashville
8
Merge onto I 40
26 mi·28 min·I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
2.1 mi·3 min·I 40
Exit 213BToward I 24 West, I 40 West: NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
0.3 mi·28 sec·I 24
Exit 211Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 24
2.3 mi·3 min·Downtown Loop
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 24
2.1 mi·2 min·I 24
Exit 46AToward I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, LouisvilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 24
34 mi·36 min·I 24
Exit 88Toward I 24 West: ClarksvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward TN 76
15
Keep slight left at fork
283 ft·9 sec
16
Continue on TN 76
3.4 mi·3 min·TN 76
17
Turn right onto US 41A
4.7 mi·8 min·Madison Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto US 41A
0.4 mi·44 sec·University Avenue
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 41A; SR 48
0.3 mi·45 sec·College Street
20
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
134 ft·2 sec·North 2nd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 2 hours, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan to leave when you feel most comfortable, as there are no required overnight stops. With a fuel cost estimated around $15, you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops, but it's always wise to top off before heading out. A good tip for this route is to be aware of the 36.4-mile stretch on I 24, ensuring you have everything you need before entering that longer segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.8 miles from Alexandria, TN, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.8 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksville, TN than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alexandria, TN so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alexandria, TN
This is one driving day of about 93.6 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Alexandria, TN.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 36.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 88.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Spring Street
Turn right onto Spring Street
Navigation decision point
9
43.6 mi into trip|~54m in|I 40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40 toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213B
Toward I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
9
45.7 mi into trip|~57m in|I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
7
50.5 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 24
Take the exit onto I 24 toward I 24 West: Clarksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 88
Toward I 24 West: Clarksville
6
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|US 41A / Madison Street
Turn right onto US 41A / Madison Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.63 one way
$29.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.07
$32.13
premium
$4.89
$18.01
$36.02
diesel
$5.61
$20.67
$41.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.1
0
$9.83
$4.49
Efficient EV
23.4
0
$8.19
$3.74
EV Truck/SUV
37.4
0
$13.10
$5.99
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Alexandria, TN
Late night
in Alexandria on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clarksville, TN
Late night
in Clarksville on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 55m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stones River National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The Battle of Stones River began on the last day of 1862 and became one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it ch...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 9.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 73% of the journey utilizing major interstate routes. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the trip, especially during the longest stretch of 36.4 miles on I 24. The road profile suggests a straightforward driving experience, largely on the interstate, with fewer opportunities for spontaneous detours. Be prepared for a steady hum of highway travel rather than winding country roads.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.4 mi on I 24.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Spring Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.6 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.7 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Alexandria, TN to Clarksville, TN, road signs begin pointing toward Louisville along the way.
Louisville
45.7 mi in|~57m|via I 24
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 93.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.4 miles on I 24. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Clarksville, TN before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Spring Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.6 miles (I 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 45.7 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stones River National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clarksville, TN before heading back.
